Fielder&#39;s glove



W. L. DOAK.

FIELDER'S GLOVE.

."-mc-\T\0N FILED APR. 18,1921.

Patented Aug. 22,1922.

BY MW ATTORNEYS entree STATES learner oranges.

WILLIAM Ii. 'DOAK, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

ringnnnivs GLOVE.

Application filed April 18,1921. Serial No. 462,316.

To all whom it. may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. DOAK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fielders Gloves. of which the following is a full,,clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to baseball gloves.

The main object of the invention is to provide a fielders glove in which the thumb and index finger of the glove are connected together by a plurality of strands that extend transversely across the space between the thumb and index finger-and co-operate with said parts to form a pocket which will conform or adjust itself automatically to a ball caught by the glove.

Another object is to provide a fielders glove of the character above referred to in whichthe strands that connect the thumb.

necting said parts together and a stay for reinforcing the seam between the thumb and index finger.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of a fielders glove constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a similar View, showing how the lacing extending between the thumb and index finger functions when a'ball is'caught by the glove; and j Figure 3is a sectional view,-taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring to, the drawings which illustrate the preferred form of my invention" A designates a fielders glove provided with a thumb 1, an index finger 2 and a plurality of strands w and y connected to said thumb and index finger and extending transversely across the space between same, as shown in Figure 1. When the glove is used for catchor which automaticallyadjusts itself to the curvature of the balladu e to the fact that the strands w and 3 are spaced apart and the Specification of Letters'l' atent. 'll wbgntgd Aug, 22, 1922 strand 3 is arranged high enough above the crotch of the space between the thumb and index finger of the glove to permit the ball to rest or seat itself in said crotch. In other words, the strands wand 1 virtually form a skeleton-like pocket for a ball positioned between the thumb 1 and index finger 2 of the glove, thereby permitting the ballto assume such a position after it has come in contact with.- the thumb. and index finger of the glove that it will be retained or held securely by the pressure exerted on same by the thumb and index finger of the hand of the fielder wearing the glove.

' In order that the pocket formed by the strands w and 3 may be varied to change the dimensions or the shape of said pocket, I prefer to use a lacing of leather or other suitable material to form the strands to and y and thread said lacing through holes in one end to the thumb 1 of the glove and the other ends of said strands are passed freely through holes in the index finger 2 of the glove and joined together by aportion z'of the lacing which forms said strands. Ac-

cordingly, if one strand is subjected ,to a' greater strain or pull than the other strand, .the strand which is subjected to the greatest strain will lengthen and the other strand will shorten automatically. This is a very desirable feature of my glove, in that it insures the strands w and y adjusting themselves automatically to the curvature of the ball caught by the glove, the force which ing to shorten the top strand 00, due ytO the fact that said top strand engages the ball at a higher point on the surface of the ball.

-Another advantage that results from connecting the strands to the glove in the manner above described is that the strand first engaged by the ball will give --or yield slightly,-andthus take/up the shock of the ball in such a way-as to reduce the liability of the strands tearing the glove.

The strands a. and y are detachably con- 100 the ball exerts on the bottom strand 3 tendnected to the thumb 1 of the glove so as to permit the length of both strands to be increased or decreased when it is desired to vary the width of the space between the thumb and index finger of the glove, and while it is immaterial how the free ends of the strands w and y are connected to the thumb 1 of the glove, I prefer to pass said strands forwardly through,,holes in the thumb 1 so that portions of said strands extend over .the front side of said thumb and then ass Said strands rearwardly through holes 1n the thumb and form knots w and g", respectively, in said strands, as shown in Figure 2, so as to prevent them from pulling out of the holes in the thumb. By arranging the lacing constituting the strands w and y of the glove. in this manner said strands will be positioned at the rear of the thumb and index finger of the glove and will naturally assume the form of two curved loops connected together at one end by a portion 2 arranged on the front side of the index finger 2 and having their free ends laced through the thumb 1 and secured by knots arranged on the rear side of said thumb.

In order that the lacing will not interfere with the flexibility of the thumb and. index finger of the glove or tear the material from which said thumb and index finger are formed, I prefer to arrange aligned eyelets win the front and rear sides of the thumb 'l and index finger 2 at the points where the laclng passes through said parts and make the outer covering of said thumb and index finger full enough so that the lacing can pass between same and the inner lining a of the glove, as shownin Figure 3. As the lacing'is located outside of the inner lining of the thumb and index finger of the gloveit will not rub against the thumb and index finger of the users hand, and as the lacing 1s threaded through holes in the outer covering of the thumb and index finger of the glove, instead of through webs, flanges or similar elements stitched to said parts, theglove is as flexible as a fielders glove in which the thumb and index finger are not connected or joined together. Furthermore,

- as the outer cover of the-glove is provided --my invention. v v

- 1 amlawareof the fact that fielders? gloves with two aligned eyelets at each point where r the lacing passes through same, there jisilittle liability of the lacing tearingthe outer cover of the gloves 1' also prefer to arrange a stay 3 ofleather or other suitable material at the crotch of- .the space between the thumb.

and index finger of the glove, "asshownin Figure 1, so as to prevent the seam ofythe crotch from ripping, but it wlll, of course,

be understood that this stay is not essential and can be omitted without departingfrom have heretofore been devised-"in" which the i I i i U l 'I\L.

thumb and index finger of the'glove are connected together by a gusset? or web stitched to said parts, but such a glove is objectionable in thatit has no provision for varying the width of the space betweenthe thumb and index finger, and moreover, it prevents a ball caught by the glove from seating itself in the crotch of the space between the thumb and index finger in such a way that it can be held securely by the thumb and index fingerof the hand of the wearer. In my improved glove the space between the thumb and index finger can be varied easily by simply changing the adjustment of the lacing that connects said parts together, and as the means which connects the thumb and index finger together consists of a plurality of spaced strands that virtually form a pocket of skeleton construction, said pocket will conform I or adjust itself automatically to the curvature ofa ball positioned'between the thumb and index finger of the glove and a rear wall for said ball pocket thet will adjust itself automatica y to a ball positioned between said thumb "nd index finger, said I strands being joined; at one end by a, portion that passes freely through the index finger, and knots at the opposite ends of said strands that serve to secure said strands to the thumb of the glove.

2. A fielders glove, provided with a thumb and an index finger, each of which com- S prises an outer cover and inner lining, and

a lacing for connecting said parts together threaded through holes in a double portion or in two thicknesses of the outer cover of each of said parts and leading from the rear I sides of saidthumb and index finger so as to formthe rear side .of-I a. ball pocket whose sides arefo'rmed by said" thumb and index finger. I 1;; I I

- 3. A .fie1der s glove, provided 'with a thumb andjan index finger, each of which comprises an outercoverand an inner lining,

a plurality of pairs ofaligned eyelets in the front and rear sides" of the-outer cover of 'each'of said parts, and an adjustable lacing threaded through saideyelets andextendin I transverselyfacross the space between sai thumb and. indexfinger so as to form the rear side of a ball pocket whose side portions are formed by said thumb and index finger. 4. A ,fielders glove, comprising a thumb,

n index finger, and a'lacing for joining said mamas I parts together, said lacing being so arranged that portions of same extend longitudinally of said thumb and index finger on the front sides of same and portions of said lacing lead from the rear side of said parts transversely of the space Between same so as to form the rear wall of a skeleton-like ball pocket whose side walls are formed by said thumb and index finger.

5. A fielders glove, comprising a thumb and index finger combined in such a way that they can separate sufliciently to permit a caught ball to pass between same, and a plurality of transversely-disposed strands connected with said thumb and index finger and being of sufiicient length to form a yielding back stop for a caught ball, which, when engaged by the ball, tends to draw said thumb and index finger around the ball.

' WILLIAM L. DOAK. 

